Sure, I have problems with the narrow beauty ideals princesses embody, the helpless gender stereotypes they often represent and the emphasis placed on finding romance in the storylines they’re a part of. But my biggest problem is the ruthless marketing.

When I was growing up, I loved the Snow White book and film as much as anyone.

I never remember having all the ‘stuff’ that went with it, though. No sparkly polyester costumes, no dwarf figurines, no plastic high heels with bejeweled poisoned apples on the toes.

And that’s because they didn’t exist when I was a kid.

The Disney Princess ‘brand’ wasn’t created until the year 2000.

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“The Disney Princess ‘brand’ wasn’t created until the year 2000.”

Since then, it’s become so successful with tens of thousands of Disney Princess products on the market and an annual income of billions, that it’s simply inescapable.

Disney Princess merch easily outsells Star Wars, Sesame Street, and all of the common superheroes marketed to ‘boys.’

Over the years, other companies have witnessed the success of Disney Princess and want a slice of the pie.

Therefore, we’re now living in a world where you can buy a princessified version of virtually anything – bottle opener, ear plugs, mosquito repellant… Google any product with ‘princess’ in front of it and you’ll find it.

So, next time you’re shopping for a girl, think twice about whether their tennis racquet, fishing rod, MP3 player or cupcake oven really needs to be ‘princess-themed.’

And never buy a tiara for a baby.

Samantha Turnbull is the author of the four-book children’s series The Anti-Princess Club, out now (March 2015) with Allen & Unwin.